Rail and wheel flange lubricator



Aug. 8, 1939. E. OVERMIER ET AL RAIL AND WHEEL FLANGE LUBRICATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 22, 1937 E.- OVERMIER ET AL RA IL AND WHEEL FLANGE LUBRICATOR Aug. 8, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 22, 1937 Orhe IMO/Z8 flames E. OVER MIER ET AL 2,168,577

RAIL AND WHEEL FLANGE LUBRIGATOR A'ugQ 8, 1939 Filed Nov. 22, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 g- 1939- E. OVERMIER ETAL' ,1 7 RAIL AND WHEEL FLANGE LUBRICATOR Filed Nov. 22, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Em/7m- Invent; 21 247 fireman: 014ml; OIYZQ'SE 0 male Daz'zzC/arh Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAIL AND WHEEL FLANGE LUBRICATOR Application November 22, 1937, Serial No. 175,862

17 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in apparatus for discharging quantities of lubricant at longitudinally spaced locations along a railroad rail so that portions of the lubricant willbe picked up by the flanges of passing car wheels and spread along the flange engaging surface of a running rail and/or guard rail of the track.

According to the present invention, lubricant from a single pumping apparatus is delivered to a plurality of discharging plates positioned adjacent the gauge side of a rail. A distributing valve is interposed in the lubricant passages of the plates, preferably adjacent a common inlet, and is adapted to be set to distribute the supplied lubricant in predetermined proportions among the several discharge plates, so that different quantities of lubricant may be discharged at different locations.

In the embodiments herein shown, the discharging plates are spaced laterally from each other so as to be positioned at either side of the wheel flanges passing along the rail. The discharge ducts of the plates are arranged to discharge the lubricant along the upper surface of the plates so that the lubricant will collect or build up along the inner faces of the plates in a manner to engage the inner and the outer surfaces of the wheel flanges and be thereby spread along the surfaces of the running and guard rails engaged by the wheel flanges.

The distributing valve makes it practicable to control the discharge of lubricant in accordance with the requirement at the particular location where the apparatus is installed. In some locations it may be desirable to apply equal amounts of lubricant to the opposite faces of the wheel flanges. In such event the distributing valve is set at its fully open position or at a partially open position so as to permit equal amounts of lubricant to flow into the lubricant channels leading to the several discharge plates. At some locations it may be desirable to apply a larger quantity of lubricant to one face of the wheel flange than is applied'to the other face. Also at certain times it may be desirable to shut off the lubricant to one of the discharge plates without shutting off the lubricant to the other plate.

The objects of this invention include the provision of simple and inexpensive constructions for accomplishing the above purposes and for providing an improved rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus which will be efficient in its operation, facilitate assembly and repair of the parts, and which is so constructed that it may be readily and conveniently installed on railway rails of diiferent sizes.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a, rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus which will operate to apply lubricant to both the inner and outer surfaces of wheel flanges, wherebythe lubricant will be spreadalong the gauge side of a running rail and along the wheel engaging surface of a guard rail, without danger of subjecting the wheel flange or the lubricant applying means to excessive thrusts likely to damage the same. In this connection the invention contemplates the provision of suitable means for varying the spacing between the lubricant discharging members to suit the particular conditions at'any location along the track. The invention also includes in this connection the provision of a resilient lubricant discharge plate which is adapted to yield laterally in response to lateral pressures exerted by the wheel flanges.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a plan View of one embodiment of the invention showing the lubricant discharging devices secured to a rail and showing also the mechanism for supplying lubricant to the discharging devices.

Fig. 2 is a side view in elevation of mechanism adapted to be engaged by the car wheels and thereby actuate the lubricant pump.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan View of one end portion of a lubricant discharging device.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1 so as to illustrate the position of a valve for proportionately controlling the flow of lubricant to the discharge plate members.

Figs. '7, 8, 9 and 10 are fragmentary views illustrating different positions of the distributing valve. 7

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary cross section taken at the same location as Fig. 5 and illustrating a modified embodiment; and

Fig. 12 is a side view of the structure shown in Fig. 11; parts of the apparatus being broken away to show the arrangement of the lubricant passages.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive, comprises lubricant supply mechanism A positioned at one side of a rail and lubricant discharging members BB positioned at the other side of the rail. The said discharging members are arranged at the gauge side of a railroad rail C so that lubricant discharged therefrom will be engaged by the flanges of passing car wheels. By this engagement the lubricant adheres to the flanges of the wheels and is spread along the rail in the vicinity of the discharging members, said wheel flanges also pick up portions of the lubricant and reapply the same to the running rail and/ or guard rail at locations remote from the lubricant discharging apparatus.

The lubricant supplying mechanism herein shown may be of any suitable known construction. However, for the purpose of showing a complete combination structure, the said mechanism is shown as comprising a supply reservoir Ill adapted to be partially embedded in the road bed at a location remote from the rail C. A suitable pump H is mounted on the reservoir and is adapted. to operate, in a manner well known, to withdraw lubricant from the reservoir and force it through'lubricantsupply ducts l2-l2 to the inlets of the discharging members B-B.

The said pump ll is operated through a flexible shaft [3 which extends from the pump to a location adjacent the running rail C. The end of the shaft near the rail is provided with a short arm I 4 which is engaged by a lever I5 mounted on the rail. The lever I5 is pivotally supported at 16 and normally extends a short distance above the top of the rail head so that it is engaged and depressed by car wheels passing along the rail. The downward movement of lever 15 imparts a rocking movement to the arm l4 and flexible shaft l3 which in turn imparts an operating movement to the pump and thereby forces lubricant through the supply conduits l2-l2 in the manner previously described.

The lubricant discharge members. B-B are preferably of identical construction. They may be arranged inspaced relation. along one running rail of the track or, if desired, they may be arranged adjacent the rails at either side of the track. Each lubricant discharging member B comprises a central bar member ll arranged at the gauge side of a rail and a plurality of lubricant discharge plates l8-l9. The. said bar I! is provided with main lubricant passages 20-2! which extend lengthwise of the bar and supply lubricant to vertical passages 22-23 formed in the discharge plates, the lubricant being discharged from said passages 22-23 into the path of travel of the car wheel flanges D.

The lubricant discharging plates Ill-I9 of the present embodiment, are spaced from each other transversely of the rail so as to embrace the flanges D of car wheels passing along the rail so that lubricant discharged from the plates will have wiping contact with the inner and outer faces of the car wheel flanges. While the lubricant may be applied to the inner and outer surfaces of the flange of a wheel, this will be unnecessary in some cases. A suflicient number of the wheel flanges of a train will receive lubricant on either their inner or outer surfaces to insure thorough lubrication of the running rails and the uard rails at locations remote from the lubricant discharging apparatus. The upper edges of the plates i8-l9 are preferably tapered in thickness so as to provide inclined surfaces for supporting the discharged lubricant and to conform to the opposite faces of the wheel flange. The ends of the plates are also tapered lengthwise of the plate to provide for easy entrance of the wheel flanges between the plates.

The main lubricant passages 2ll-2l in the bar ll are preferably in the form of open grooves formed in the opposite faces of the bar. The said passages, for the greater portion of their length, extend along the lower edges of the bar as shown at E in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. At substantially the middle of the bar the said passages turn upwardly and extend for a short distance along the upper edge of the bar as shown at F in Figs. 4 and 6 to 10 inclusive. The center portions of the said main passages are connected by branch inlet ducts 20a-2la to a common inlet chamber 24, the latter of which is shown best in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. The extremities of the main passages 20-2l connect with branches Zilb-Zlb which lead to the discharge passages 22-23 respectively, of the discharge plates 3-49.

The main lubricant passages 28-2l, and likewise the branch passages 23a-2 Ia and Zflb-Zlb, are closed by the discharge plates l8-I9, there being a spacing plate 25 of suitable thickness interposed between the bar IT and one of the discharge plates to permit suitable spacing of the plates with relation to each other. The said plates I 8 and [9 are, preferably, though not necessarily, composite structures consisting of main plates and back plates 26-21, the latter of which close the lubricant grooves 22-23. The several parts of the lubricant discharging structure as above described are firmly secured between supporting plates 28-29 by bolts 30.

The lubricant delivered to the common inlet chamber 24 is distributed in predetermined proportions to the lubricant passages 29-2! by means of a distributing valve designated generally by the reference numeral 3!. The body portion of the valve is fitted in the valve opening so as to intersect the branch inlet passages 2lla-2ia and is provided with transverse slots 32-33 adapted to register with the said branch inlet passages when the valve is turned to a predetermined position. The said slots 32-33 are made of different sizes so that rotation of the valve will close one of the inlet passages of the bar I! before the other. This makes it practicable to restrict or partially close one of the passages while the other passage remains fully open. In the present embodiment the slot 32 is formed to extend through a greater are than the slot 33 so that the inlet passage 20a will remain fully open for a longer period than the inlet passage 2 la when the valve is turned to the right from the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8 to the position shown in Figs. 9 and 10. During such movement, it will be seen that the inlet passage 21a will be partially closed while the passage Zila. remains fully open. Continued movement of the valve in the same direction will completely close both of the inlet passages and subsequently reopen both passages in equal proportions. The valve is provided with a stem 34 which is threaded into an opening in the bar 29. Lock nut 35, on the stem, maintains the valve in any position of adjustment.

It will be understood from the above description that in situations in which it is desired to discharge a larger portion of lubricant from the plate l9 than is discharged from the plate E8 the position of the slots 32-33 are reversed, that is to say, the slot 32 is made smaller than the slot 33.

The lubricant discharging device and the wheel actuated mechanism for operating the parts are supported on the rail by ?means of clamp structure having jaw members 36 engaging one edge of the rail base and jaws 31-38 for engaging the opposite edge of the rail base, the said jaw 38 being employed to provide an attachment for the wheel actuated mechanism. A clamp bolt 39 cooperates with said jaws to hold them tightly on the rail. The lubricant dis charge device is supported on the jaw members 36 so that it can be raised, lowered, or adjusted to predetermined angular positions relative to the rail by inserting suitable spacing elements or shims 40 between the bar 29 and the jaw members 36.

The operation of the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive may be summarized as follows: The wheels passing along the rail engage and depress the lever l5 so as to impart a partial rotation to the lever arm l4 and flexible shaft 13. This movement of the shaft imparts an operative movement to the pump Ii and thereby forces lubricant through the supply conduits I2-l2 to the main passages 202l of the lubricant discharge members B--B. The lubricant thus delivered to the inlet openings of the discharge members B-B is distributed in predetermined proportions to the lubricant dis- Charging plates I8--l9 by means of the distributing valve 3|, the slots 32-33 of which are so proportioned as to permit a partial closing of the supply passage 2| leading to the discharge plate l9 without changing the inlet opening to the supply passage 20 leading to the discharge plate l8. However, by continued movement of, the valve in onedirection both supply passages can be closed, one of the passages being closed before the other.

The modification shown in Figs. 11 and 12 is the same as the previously described embodiment except in the following respects: The lubricant discharging plate for applying lubricant to the inner face of the wheel flange D, instead of being rigid, as in the previous embodiment, is yieldable so as to permit the plate to flex outwardly from the rail in the event that the wheel moves outwardly from the rail a distance sufficiently to exert lateral pressure on the discharging plate. The discharging plate is designated 4| and is composed preferably of a rubber strip formed on one face with grooves which provide lubricant branch ducts connecting openings 43 and 44 and providing passages for lubricant from the main supply passage of the bar l1. The grooved face of the rubber strip is provided with a metal facing, preferably a thin metal strip 45 which may be vulcanized or otherwise suitably secured to the rubber. The inner wheel engaging face of the member 4| may be protected by two metal face plates 46 and 41.

By providing the discharging element of the lubricator with one or more flexible discharge plates as illustrated in the modified construction, the said plates may be adjusted somewhat closer to each other than the rigid plates of the previous embodiment without danger of being damaged by severe thrusts of the wheel flange and without incurring excessive wear or friction which might otherwise result from the lateral pressure of the wheel flange against the discharge plate. Inasmuch as the other features of this embodiment are the same as described in connection with Figs. 1 to inclusive, the corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters previously used.

We claim:

1. A rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus comprising, in combination, lubricant discharging means having a plurality of lubricant ducts for directing lubricant to predetermined locations along a railway track, means for supplying lubricant to the passages of the discharging means, and a. distributing valve adjustably interposed in the inlet ends of said passages to proportionately distribute the supplied lubricant to the several passages of the discharging means.

2. A rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality of lubricant discharging means, each disposed parallel to the gauge side of a rail and having a main lubricant passage and branch passages connected therewith from which quantities of lubricant are discharged at predetermined locations, lubricant supplying means including a. common supply duct communicating with the inlet end of said main lubricant passages, and a distributing valve interposed in said main lubricant passages for proportionately distributing the supplied lubricant to the several main passages.

3. A rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality of lubricant discharging plates arranged parallel to the gauge side of a railroad rail and having lubricant outlet ports arranged at spaced locations lengthwise of the rail, which ports communicate with main lubricant passages, means for supplying lubricant to the said main passages, and a unitary distributing valve interposed in the said main lubricant passages for adjustably proportioning the flow of lubricant into saidpassages.

4. A rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality of lubricant dischargers arranged lengthwise of a track and having lubricant passages therein for discharging lubricant at locations for contact with passing wheel flanges, means for supplying lubricant to said passages, and a distributing valve interposed in the said lubricant passages adjacent the inlet ends thereof for proportionately controlling the flow of lubricant into the passages of the said dischargers whereby a greater quantity of lubricant'may be discharged from the passages of one discharger than from the passages of another discharger.

5. In a rail and wheel flange lubricator, a lubricant discharger provided with spaced apart lubricant discharging plates adapted to be positioned at any selected location at one side of a rail to embrace the opposite faces of wheel flanges as the latter move along the rail, there being openings in said lubricant discharging plates at spaced locations for discharging lubricant, whereby the accumulation of lubricant on said plates will engage the opposite faces of car wheel flanges.

6. In a rail and wheel flange lubricator, a lubricant discharger comprising a pair of plate members spaced apart laterally so as to embrace the opposite faces of wheel flanges as the wheels move along a rail and adapted to be attached to the rail without alteration of the rail, there being a plurality of discharge openings in the upper portions of said plates from which lubricant is adapted to discharge into the space between said plates, whereby the discharged lubricant is caused to engage opposite faces of car wheel flanges passing between said plates,

'7. In a rail and wheel flange lubricator, a lubricant discharger comprising a central bar formed with lubricant supply ducts, lubricant discharge plates secured to opposite faces of the bar so as to embrace the opposite faces of wheel flanges as the wheels move along the rail, there being a plurality of discharge openings in the upper portions of said plates which communicate with the supply ducts in the bar and from which lubricant is adapted to be discharged into the space between the plates; the upper portions of the said plates being tapered to provide supporting surfaces for the discharged lubricant, whereby the discharged lubricant is caused to engage opposite faces of car wheel flanges passing between said bars.

8. In a rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus, a lubricant discharger comprising a bar member extending lengthwise of a rail and having main lubricant passages therein, plate members secured to said bar and extending upwardly therefrom so as to allow the flanges of wheels passing along the rail to pass between them, there being lubricant passages in the plates communicating with the main lubricant passages in the bar and extending to outlet openings in the upper portions of the plates.

9. In a rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus, a lubricant discharger comprising a bar member extending lengthwise of a rail and having main lubricant passages therein, plate members secured to said bar and extending upwardly therefrom so as to allow the flanges of wheels passing along the rail to pass between them, there being grooves in the plates to provide'lubricant passages extending from the upper edge portions of the plates to the main lubricant passages in the said bar, and groove closure plates secured to the first mentioned plates.

10. In a rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus, a lubricant discharger comprising a bar member adapted to extend lengthwise of a rail and formed in its opposite faces with grooves extending lengthwise of the bar to provide main lubricant passages, plate members secured to the opposite faces of said bar to close said grooves and having passages formed therein which extend from the upper edges of the plates to the main lubricant passage in said bar.

11. In a rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus, a lubricant discharger comprising a bar member formed with an inlet opening for connection with a lubricant supply duct and formed in the opposite faces with grooves extending lengthwise of the bar and communicating with said inlet opening, there being branch grooves of equal length communicating with the extremities of the main groove in the bar, plate members secured to said bar to close said grooves and adapted to allow the flanges of wheels passing along the rail to pass between them, there being lubricant ducts formed in the plates and extending from the upper edges of the plates to the branch grooves formed in said bar adapted to discharge lubricant at spaced locations for contact with the inner and outer faces of the car wheel flanges.

12. In a rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus, a lubricant discharger comprising a bar member adapted to extend lengthwise of a rail and having its opposite faces provided with grooves extending longitudinally of the bar, there being a common inlet for the said grooves near the middle and branch grooves of equal length communicating with the end portions of said grooves, plate members clamped to said bar to close said grooves, there being branch grooves on the outer faces of said plates leading from their upper edge portions to the extremities of the branch grooves in said bar, and closure plates secured to the first mentioned plate to close the grooves therein.

13. In a rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus, comprising, in combination, a lubricant discharger comprising a bar member extending lengthwise of a rail and provided with main lubricant passages extending lengthwise of the bar from a centrally disposed inlet for lubricant, plate members secured to the bar and having lubricant branch ducts formed therein for directing lubricant to locations for engagement with opposite faces of car wheel flanges passing along the rail, and a distributing valve arranged in said main lubricant passages for adjustably proportioning the flow of lubricant into said passages.

14. In a rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus, a lubricant discharger comprising plates spaced apart laterally to provide a channel for receiving the flanges of car wheels passing along the rail, there being lubricant discharge ducts formed in said plates for directing lubricant to locations for contact with opposite faces of the car wheel flanges, and means comprising a spacing element interposed between the plates and having laterally spaced lubricant passages extending lengthwise of the plates and communicating with a common inlet opening, and an adjustable distributing valve interposed in said passages and formed to proportionately distribute the lubricant received by said common inlet.

15. In a rail and wheel flange lubricator, a lubricant discharge device comprising plate members spaced apart so as to embrace opposite'faces of wheel flanges passing along the rail, the inner faces of the plates at their ends being tapered outwardly to provide an easy entrance for the car wheel flanges, there being lubricant passages formed in said plates for directing lubricant to locations spaced longitudinally of the rail for contact with opposite faces of the wheel flanges, and valve means associated with said lubricant passages for proportionately control ling the flow of lubricant therethrough, whereby different quantities of lubricant may be discharged from said plate members.

16. In a rail and wheel flange lubricator, a lubricant discharger provided with spaced apart lubricant discharging elements positioned at one side of the rail to embrace the opposite faces of wheel flanges as the latter move along the rail, one of said lubricant discharging elements being resilient and adapted to be flexed laterally in response to lateral pressure exerted thereon by the wheel flange.

17. In a rail and wheel flange lubricator, a lubricant discharger provided with spaced apart lubricant discharging plates, one of which is:

flexible and adapt-ed to yield laterally in response, to lateral pressure of the wheel flange, there be-; ing lubricant discharge ducts formed in each of the plates, and spacing means interposed between the said discharge plates and having main lubricant passages for supplying lubricant to the passages of said discharge plates.

EMMONS OVERMIER. THOMAS E. RODMAN. DAVID M. CLARKE. 

